The 2025 KGL Foundation Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship is officially underway following a comprehensive orientation session for all participants on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
The programme prepared players, coaches and officials from across the country for a smooth and successful competition. Participants were briefed on camp rules, competition regulations and refereeing protocols, ensuring that every participant is fully informed ahead of the tournament kickoff.
Key presentations also covered safeguarding practices, anti-doping measures, medical guidelines and other essential topics, reinforcing the Football Association’s commitment to player welfare and fair play.
Beginning Saturday, September 20, ten Regional Football Associations and two GFA Elite Academies will compete for nine days of exciting youth football, with the tournament running through Saturday, September 27, 2025.
All matches will be officiated by referees from the GFA’s acclaimed “Catch Them Young” Refereeing Program, a pioneering initiative that has already developed hundreds of talented young officials with experience at the Division One level.
The orientation featured notable speakers, including Joseph Tetteh Zutah, GFA Elite Academy Manager and National Team Department representative, who underscored the importance of discipline and professionalism. Dr. Dickson Bandoh delivered an insightful lecture on medical readiness and anti-doping, while former referee Jones Akubiem, an instructor for the Catch Them Young Refereeing Programme, inspired participants with a message on integrity and excellence. Player screening was led by Juvenile Committee Vice-Chairman JoeSalam Abubakar, alongside committee member Michael Fiaduse, ensuring full compliance with eligibility standards.
Now in its fifth edition, the KGL Foundation Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship is being staged at the Prampram Technical Centre for a second consecutive year, following earlier editions in Accra and Kumasi.
Since its launch in 2021, the Championship has become a vital platform for unearthing Ghana’s next generation of football stars. Numerous players discovered through the competition have gone on to sign with Ghana Premier League and Division One clubs, underscoring its growing influence on the nation’s football development pathway.
Backed by a landmark five-year, $1 million sponsorship from the KGL Foundation, the tournament continues to play a central role in the GFA’s grassroots strategy, promoting talent identification, safeguarding player welfare and inspiring the future of Ghanaian football.
GFA Communications